[chaitanyakrish]

Hello All,

Posting a new thread as I couldn't find a separate thread for Bandipur.

Are there any other good resorts other than the one managed by JLR, around Bandipur, Mudumalai and Masinagudi ?

Please list down

Is Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Resort run by Tamilnadu good ? Please share your experiences.

https://www.mudumalaitigerreserve.com/

[ampere]

There are many I think. For a start I can easily mention Windflower and Serai.

[Dr.AD]

In addition to what ampere suggested (Windflower Resort and Serai Bandipur - both fine places), there is another place that is quite nice - Dhole's Den.

https://dholesden.com/

It is not a big resort. Instead, this is small and boutique place, but a very nice place for sure.

[deepak_misra]

I was there 2 months back.
Stayed in https://runnel-view-resorts.business.site/
This is the successor of the legendary "Wild Haven". Most resorts have closed due to government policies.
This place is a no frills once right on the edge of the forest. Food is excellent,

[gadadhar]

Masanagudi - Bamboo Banks and Casa Deep Woods (got taken over by Mahindra later)

Bandipur - Magnifera is located just before the safari gate

[Mumbaiker]

Do the resorts help with booking jeep safari. I read at a lot of places that its better to stay with Jungle Resorts as their rates are inclusive of safari and it ensures you get a jeep safari 100%. Can someone please shed some light on this.

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by Mumbaiker

Do the resorts help with booking jeep safari. I read at a lot of places that its better to stay with Jungle Resorts as their rates are inclusive of safari and it ensures you get a jeep safari 100%. Can someone please shed some light on this.

You are right. Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) are the best bet if the wildlife safari is your priority. They have their own Jeep safaris which are guaranteed and included in the package.

However, even other private resorts often arrange some safaris, in some form and shape. But it varies from resort to resort and from time to time. In Kabini, for example, many other resorts are allowed to drop their guests at JLR and put them in JLR safaris provided JLR Jeeps have empty seats. If JLR is 100% occupied, then they do not allow these resort guests.

Further, many resorts drop their guests at the nearby forest offices where there are bus/Jeep safaris open to public. For example, last time when we stayed at Windflower Resort at Bandipur, they offered to drop us at the Bandipur Safari point (where public bus/Jeep safaris start from) and take that safari.

Thus, if you stay at a private resort, the safari arrangements would vary and it may or may not work out for you. JLR is the safest best if safari is the top priority.

[deepak_misra]

Originally Posted by gadadhar

Masanagudi - Bamboo Banks and Casa Deep Woods (got taken over by Mahindra later)

Bandipur - Magnifera is located just before the safari gate

Casa Deep Woods is a beautiful place but might have closed down due to the last Supreme court order a few years back

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

Y

Thus, if you stay at a private resort, the safari arrangements would vary and it may or may not work out for you. JLR is the safest best if safari is the top priority.

If you are looking specifically at Bandipur, you can book the safari online. HOwever these are canters and normally filled with noisy tourists who just want to see a tiger. YOu can also book a jeep which is a bit expensive compared to canter
https://www.bandipurtigerreserve.co.in/

[vandemanw]

Has anyone stayed at the Mudumalai tiger reserve TN tourism dept managed guest houses? Had a few queries:
1. Considering their prices are much cheaper compared to JLR, how is the whole forest stay experience?
2. Is the safari experience better on the TN side rather than the KA side?
3. At the end of the day does stay + safari
experience at JLR trump all other options (like stay at mudumalai, other private resorts. Our priorities are forest stat and safari.

[FURY_44]

Originally Posted by vandemanw

Has anyone stayed at the Mudumalai tiger reserve TN tourism dept managed guest houses? Had a few queries:
1. Considering their prices are much cheaper compared to JLR, how is the whole forest stay experience?
2. Is the safari experience better on the TN side rather than the KA side?
3. At the end of the day does stay + safari
experience at JLR trump all other options (like stay at mudumalai, other private resorts. Our priorities are forest stat and safari.

I would also like to know if someone has stayed with the TN dept guest houses considering the prices are low.

Attaching the price chart captured at the Banyan Restaurant, Theppakadu during a recent trip.

[Krish_Diesel]

Hello everyone. I'm interested in learning more about the guesthouses in the Mudumalai reserve forest from Tamil Nadu. Has anyone stayed there? How was your experience?

Additionally, where the former Safari office formerly stood, I've heard there are Bandipur lodges. They are located rather close to the forest, and it has been reported that occasionally bears and leopards have been seen passing through the compound at night. Please, if anyone has any information on this, let me know.

[thirugata]

Originally Posted by Krish_Diesel

. They are located rather close to the forest, and it has been reported that occasionally bears and leopards have been seen passing through the compound at night. Please, if anyone has any information on this, let me know.

If you are looking for spotting wildlife from the room , I would recommend https://secretivory.com/ , Masinagudi
This is more of a guest house than a resort. You got a tree house and few individual cottages here. You have better chances of spotting wild life from these cottages as they are on the edge of the property and facing the forest.

[deepak_misra]

Originally Posted by Krish_Diesel

Hello everyone. I'm interested in learning more about the guesthouses in the Mudumalai reserve forest from Tamil Nadu. Has anyone stayed there? How was your experience?

Additionally, where the former Safari office formerly stood, I've heard there are Bandipur lodges. They are located rather close to the forest, and it has been reported that occasionally bears and leopards have been seen passing through the compound at night. Please, if anyone has any information on this, let me know.

The Bandipur lodges are quite basic but okay. I have stayed there on numerous occasions and once or twice had dirty rooms. Overall the experience has been good.They have recently increased the rates which has removed the USP of low cost.
However the rooms are really in the jungle which gives you a very good feel of the wild. I have seen a leopard at night about 100 meters from the room which was an experience.
you can book rooms online
Food is very basic in the attached canteen

[Krish_Diesel]

Originally Posted by deepak_misra

The Bandipur lodges are quite basic but okay. I have stayed there on numerous occasions and once or twice had dirty rooms. Overall the experience has been good.They have recently increased the rates which has removed the USP of low cost.
However the rooms are really in the jungle which gives you a very good feel of the wild. I have seen a leopard at night about 100 meters from the room which was an experience.
you can book rooms online
Food is very basic in the attached canteen

Thank you Deepak_misra for the details and this fascinates me more to stay in these cottages. Thank you again

Originally Posted by thirugata

If you are looking for spotting wildlife from the room , I would recommend https://secretivory.com/ , Masinagudi
This is more of a guest house than a resort. You got a tree house and few individual cottages here. You have better chances of spotting wild life from these cottages as they are on the edge of the property and facing the forest.

Thank you Thirugata. This is a new place I never heard of. I will give it a try.

[M35]

Is anyone out there with any experience staying at Serai Bandipur? I am planning a drive with family from Palakkad - Bandipur - Mysore- Bangalore and back. Seriously looking at Serai in Bandipur.